The life of your radiators depends on proper maintenance. Bleeding is one of the operations to be done to ensure the proper functioning of your radiators and your boiler.
Bleeding a radiator is a necessary operation to evacuate the air in the heating system. The latter tends to concentrate air bubbles which prevent hot water from circulating properly and therefore block the heat. The heating uniformity of the appliance is therefore altered. Draining will allow the heating system to regain its performance.
It is recommended to do it at least once a year, preferably at the beginning of winter, at the end of winter or when you hear suspicious noises. Failure to carry out this purge exposes your devices to several inconveniences caused by the excess air in the closed circuit:increased energy consumption, drop in heating temperature, noise in the pipes, etc.
Above all, it is recommended to start bleeding the radiator that is closest to the boiler if you are in a two-story house. You will then end up with the radiator that is furthest away. Start the operation by deactivating the heating system or otherwise simply position the boiler in “summer” mode so that it cools down. Then find the bleed screw.
Normally it is located on the opposite side of the valve intended for temperature adjustment. On some models of radiators, it looks like a hexagonal socket head button, on others, it looks like a brass wheel. Using a bleed wrench, unscrew the bleed screw until you hear a hiss. Do not forget to place a container below it. Water will flow out with a slightly gray tint that comes from radiator sludge. Wait a few seconds until the water flows evenly then close. Tighten the screw again without forcing too much.
Once all this has been done, restore the pressure in the heating circuit. Open the filling valve and wait a moment for the pressure gauge to display between 1.5 to 2 bars depending on the type of dwelling. Close and then operate the boiler again.
If you do not want to carry out these manual purges, you can also choose an automatic purger, which is very practical, especially if you have several radiators in your home.
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